morticer chisels

[Fraseman999]

Hi Folks,
I have a new jet 701 morticer which should have plenty power. I have purchased some chisels for it, not good quality ones. I have set the clearance correctly and to be honest i am very disappointed. I cannot stop the chisel from burning. The 701 comes with clearance shims and certainly has the power. I have resorted to using a normal auger bit and it cuts through like butter, then using the mortice chisel bit to square the sides. Can anyone tell me what my problem could be. I can only assume that if i have spent £20 on a set of chisels when a good one can cost £100 then it must be the bits. If i use the chisel/bit it takes an age or my bench would go on fire! when i do it with say the 16mm auger i can put the chisel bit back in and clean up and it takes half the time!

Any ideas?

fraseman

 

[Waka]

I'd say that the fault lies with the chisels, I'm not sure whether they can be fettled, but its worth a try.

To get real top quality chisels you need to spend a lot more money.

 

[WellsWood]

...I can only assume that if i have spent £20 on a set of chisels when a good one can cost £100 then it must be the bits.

Seems to me you've answered your own question there and are just trying to find someone to tell you the answer lies elsewhere. I know this may sound harsh but I speak from quite a bit of experience doing the same thing until I learned that hardest of lessons properly :- you get what you pay for.

The bottom line is that no machine will live up to it's potential without decent tooling - it is after all the chisel and bit that do the work of cutting the material, the rest of the machine simply serves to hold the work and move the tool into it. Fork out on a decent quality chisel and bit - I can heartily recommend Axminster's Japanese pattern ones, not cheap but about half what you could spend on Clico - and I have every confidence you'll find the difference nothing short of a revelation.

edit.
Having just re-read your post I'm wondering about the "clearance shims" you mention. I'm assuming you know how to set the lead (i.e.gap) between bit and chisel and these shims are for that purpose. If not have a look here, about halfway down the page at the section titled "chisel and bit spacing". Getting this wrong will lead to problems with even the best tooling.

Above advice still stands though.

 

[9fingers]

Try sharpening the auger. The cheap ones are often supplied poorly sharpened if not blunt. A few strokes with a stone should see some improvement but for long term buy one or two decent chisels. Depending on the the work you do a 1/2" can be used most of the time with multiple cuts and a 1/4" for those little jobs.

Bob

 

[ProShop]

As mentioned above. Have you set enough clearance for the chisel size.
if not you'll get that familiar burning & a poor cut.

FWIW, Irrespective of what the machine says about clearance, try a bigger clearance and see if that makes any difference

 

[Argus]

.


Ditto the clearances - a decent washer or 5p piece is not too thick - if you're really flush, go up to a 2p piece.

I can recommend the Axminster Japanese pattern bits, -used them for years however, I may suggest that you use a little chain-saw oil on the shank of the auger and a little on the tip now and then to prevent overheating. There's bound to be a little rubbing.

I use the Oregon oil that has a consistency not unlike treacle..... great stuff because it doesn't fly off when things go round and round and it's wood-friendly.

.

 

[cutting solutions]

I can do similar pattern to the Axminster (Type 150 suitable for Multico)
for example:
1/2" @ £40.00 each
+ post
+ VAT

 

[JoinerySolutions]

Not just the auger, the chisels are not always up to par either.
Feedrate is also a consideration, I've seen apprentices split chisels because they think as it is a machine they can just force it through, and we are talking the expensive ones!
It also depends on the timber, some woods need more clearance between the auger and bit to clear than others.

I'm not conversant with your particular machine, but, the standard set up procedure is:-

Insert the chisel into the collar leaving 1.5 to 2mm gap between chisel flange and holder.
Insert auger up tight into the chisel and tighten the chuck/auger holder.
Release the chisel and push up tight to the holder and square to the back fence/material support.

Simples' as they say but not always in the instruction book!

Hope this helps, if not post some pic's, I'm sure one of the chaps here will spot where things are going too hot.

Rob.

 

[Fraseman999]

Thanks for all your replies,
The jet comes with two swivel spacers. You use one shim up to 12mm and both above that size. swing them around and set up chisel and bit. Push them back out of the way and push the chisel fully up and thats the clearance set up. Have to say they are just crap chisels. The augers that i have cut so smoothly that i may just clean the mortice out with them first and finish off with the chisel and bit.

cheers

Fraseman

 

[Eric The Viking]

Have to say they are just crap chisels. The augers that i have cut so smoothly that i may just clean the mortice out with them first and finish off with the chisel and bit.

On recommendation from here, I resharpened mine carefully, and polished the outside surfaces on the leather wheel of my sharpener. It made a _huge_ amount of difference - no more burning, cleaner walls to the mortices (in cheap pine!), and less effort overall.

HTH,

E.